Soccer legend Kasey Keller to grace Oly Soccer Foundation Gala Night Saturday

Artesian Soccer and the Oly Soccer Foundation will hold their third annual fundraising Gala Night to support their youth outreach and local soccer programming on Saturday, March 23, at Nicole’s Bar Off Legion in downtown Olympia, Washington.

FC Olympia has also announced on their website Monday that former US MNT goalkeeper and Olympia native Kasey Keller will grace the fundraising dinner as the night’s keynote speaker.

“We’re humbled by Kasey Keller speaking to our supporters at the Oly Soccer Foundation gala on March 23,” said FC Olympia principal owner Ryan Perkins. “His career is really astonishing when you consider the number of years he played professionally in Europe and how many appearances he made for the United States National Team.”

Hometown hero

Keller started his prolific soccer career as a homegrown Olympia talent born and raised here and went to school at North Thurston High School, finding success early in college soccer with the University of Portland Pilots in the NCAA Div I while simultaneously playing for the Portland Timbers in the college off-season, while also being called up in the US U-20 national team.

Since then, Keller had kicked off his professional soccer career to new heights as the reliable man between the gates with stints in the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and the German Bundesliga before retiring with the Seattle Sounders FC in the MLS, leading them to a three-peat of US Open Cups in the three seasons he played there.

As the first American goalkeeper to be a regular in three prestigious European leagues, he was a shoo-in starter for the US Men’s National team, with 102 caps in an international career spanning from 1990 to 2007, where fans remember him famously after his 10 saves in the USMNT’s 1-0 upset win against Brazil in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Semifinals in 1998. He has four CONCACAF Gold Cups in his name.

Joining Kasey Keller are guest speakers, including former pro Reign FC player & Olympic Gold Medalist Stephanie Cox and City of Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder.

Photo courtesy of FC Olympia

Photo courtesy of FC Olympia

“Our purpose is to build up local soccer opportunities for kids and inspire the next generation of players,” said Perkins. “From amazing high school and college athletes traveling in from all over the world to play USL soccer each summer to local youth summer camps and year-round clinics.“

“We want to provide a next level space for our local youth soccer players to grow and achieve their soccer dreams,” Perkins continued.

The event is set to have several fundraising activities, dinner, and a live band following the end of the event.

Forty dollars gets you a ticket and is only available online, food at your entry, and a seat at some of the most anticipated excellent soccer speakers.

Tickets are available at the 2024 Oly Soccer Gala Fundraiser (givebutter.com), while more information on the event can be found at www.fcoly.com

Data and quotes courtesy of FC Olympia.

The Oly Soccer Foundation has updated its list of items for auction in the upcoming fundraising night.

Photo courtesy of FC Olympia